JOHN MARK MINISTRIES

Dear friends,

As you may know, John Mark Ministries exists to support pastors, ex-pastors, church leaders and their spouses. Rev. Les Scarborough ministers out of Sydney, I’m in Melbourne. Les majors on:

Pastors’ renewal,

Retreats, 

Church audits, 

Small group ministries,

and Counseling.

I have the following ‘strings to my bow’:

Seminars for pastors and other professional people on a variety of topics; 

Preaching/teaching; 

Research: why have 10,000 pastors left parish ministry? 

Writing: 2-3 books a year for Christian leaders; 

Church audits; 

Overseas conferences for pastors/leaders/missionaries; 

Counseling – pastors, spouses, others; Professional reading; 

Evangelism.

Financially, some of these are self-supporting, but we need your help to cover research, writing, reading and evangelism.

Special projects:

[1] RESEARCH:

Phase one (costing over $15,000) is complete. One in 40 of Australia’s ex-pastors have returned a 100-item questionnaire; these have been analysed (write for a two page summary). We now need $10,000 (of which $1500 has been pledged) to seek 250 more respondents, to make valid recommendations to denominational leaders about the call, selection, training, and care of their clergy.

Another (one-month) project: research and write up a report on PASTORS AND INAPPROPRIATE SEX, to include a code of ethics. Cost: $2000.

[2]EVANGELISTIC OPPORTUNITIES:

The Internet: This year alone my evangelistic and other Christian postings will be read by up to 1 million people on various newsgroups! Cost in preparation and on-line time: $8000 per year.

[3] CHURCH AUDITING MANUAL:

Church growth expert Peter Wagner tells me there isn’t a comprehensive do-it-yourself auditing manual for local church leaders. I have now outlined ‘100 Marks of a Healthy Church’ to be written in 1995, published 1996. Cost: four months of my time ($6000), plus secretarial and researchers’ time ($2000).
Can you help? Here’s an opportunity to be directly involved in some front-line ministries. Please make cheques to John Mark Ministries, indicating your particular interest/s. Shalom!

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INFORMATION FOR CLIENTS

Dear ‘friend of John Mark’, Thank you for inviting Rowland Croucher to participate in coun- seling/ preaching/ seminar leading. John Mark Ministries is a Christian, non-profit organization, currently employing Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher as its Director in Melbourne, (and Rev. Les Scarborough in Sydney). Others help in a voluntary capacity. Rowland’s salary (slightly less than the recommended stipend of the major Protestant churches) and the Ministry’s expenses are completely financed by gifts, counseling fees, royalties and book sales and honoraria from preaching, seminar leading and consulting. Counseling fees are on a sliding scale, depending on ability to pay. Suggested contribution: $60 per hour (negotiable downwards if not earning a normal salary). Suggested consulting, seminaring, and preaching fees are $400 per day (including travel time) for churches, $500 for denominations/Christian schools/business organizations. Accommodation and transport expenses are the responsibility of the inviting church or group. Qantas is preferred, and Rowland is happy to stay in a quiet home when away from Melbourne to save motel costs. Tax-deductible donations (for John Mark Ministries’ overseas leadership training expenses) may be made through: Maranatha Trust, Box 886 Bondi Junction 2022. Tell them it’s for John Mark Ministries; include your name and address for appropriate receipt. For seminars it is suggested that a lectern be placed to the left of an overhead projector. Please provide pens and transparencies. Maximum number of seminar-hours per day: five (preferably with early-to-mid afternoon free). Topics for seminars/preaching: 

Your Church Can Come Alive (why not view the videos and read the book first?); 

Leadership; 

Poverty, Hunger and Justice Issues (with special reference to World Vision’s ministries); 

Stress and Spirituality in Ministry; 

Time management for Church Leaders; 

Diagnosing the Health of Your Church; 

Megatrends in the Church Around the World; 

How to Survive as a Pastors’ Spouse; 

Why Clergy leave Parish Ministry, How to Pursue Excellence Without cracking Up.

Please note: John Mark Ministries exists to serve pastors, church leaders and their spouses. The above suggestions are simply that: suggestions! If there is any difficulty financially or in any other respect, it is still our delight to be of service!

Rowland Croucher

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